Panthers fall to Hartselle in 6A second round

The Southside High baseball team’s season came to an abrupt end in Hartselle last Friday (Apr. 28).
The Panthers were swept, 5-1 and 16-0 (in five innings) in the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs to end their season at 22-12.
Southside’s lone run came in Game 1 on a second-inning home run by Logan Brooks.
However, that would be the only time the Panthers would hold the lead for the rest of the day.
Garrett Wade led off the bottom of the second with a single and Grayson Bray walked to put two Hartselle runners on base. A sacrifice fly from Taylor Easterling scored Wade and a single from Eric Stephenson drove in Bray to put the Tigers up 2-1.
Hartselle added to its lead in the third when Wade hit an RBI double to drive in Connor Burks.
The Tigers added two more runs in the sixth inning thanks to a two-RBI single from Burks that scored Bray and Easterling.
While Hartselle eventually pulled away from the Panthers in the first game, the Tigers dominated Southside completely in the second game.
Winning pitcher Garrett Wade allowed just four hits and no runs with 10 strikeouts in seven innings.
Hartselle will host the Hueytown this Friday (May 5) in the third round.